Extension step-ladder



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. PHELPS, OF MARSHALL, MICHIGAN.

EXTENSION STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,552, dated July 6,1880.

Application filed July 22,1878.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. PHELPs, of Marshall, in the county ofCalhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsin Extension Fruit and Step Ladders; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which will enable others skilled in Jche art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a combined step or fruit ladder so hinged in thecenter that it can be readily converted into an extension-ladder, aswill be hereinafter more fully explained.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2is a view showing the ladder extended. Figs. 3 and 4 are views showingthe fastening of the joints.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the severalligures.-

My improved ladder is divided into two equal sections, A and B, andfastened together by two malleable hinges. Section A, I usually maketapering-that is, wider at the baseand with ilat steps for greaterconvenience when my invention is used as a step-ladder. Said section isproperly braced by one or more cross-pieces, R. Section-B is furnishedwith rounds. The hinges C C are castvwith turnedup ends let into andeither screwed or bolted to the sections A and B, as shown in Figs. land 3.

D is a platform, hinged in any suitable manner to section B, so as torest on a round, F, placed at the upper end of section A.

E is a hook, fastening the two sections of the step or fruit laddertogether to keep them from spreading when in use; and J J are hooksengaging pins or staples K K, for holding the ladder extended, as shownin Fig. 2. The hinges C are fastened on the under side of the ladder,and by means of the bentup ends entering or holding in mortises or gainsin the sections are adequate to sustain the strain which necessarilycomes upon the hinge when the sections abut end to end, as shown, thehooks J being merely used to keep the ladder extended while it is beingshifted from one position to another.

My invention being invaluable for fruit-picking, tree-trimming, cleaningoflarge windows, 821e., it can as handily be used for any purposes forwhich any ordinary ladder may be.

My invention placed beside a fruit-tree, two pickers can stand uponopposite sides of the ladder and gather the fruit handily and easily,untrammeled by a basket or a pail, which may rest upon the platform.

I am aware that ladders hinged in two sections, With their ends abuttingand held by a fastening device, are not new, and such I do not claim,broadly; but

What I do claim is- In a folding ladder whose sections abut end to end,the combination, with said sections, of hinges C, applied thereto, asshown, and having bent-up ends entering and holding in mortises or gainsin the said sections, all as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afx my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

HENRY E. PHELPS.

Witnesses:

OTTO LEE J oHNsoN, GEO. A. J oHNsoN.

